Turkey’s Rug Exports Surge to $1.25B in H1: Machine-Made Dominance, Logistics Nightmare

According to the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) data, Turkey’s $1.257 billion rug and carpet exports in the first half of 2024 were led by machine-made carpets at $978.9 million, highlighting the sector’s reliance on automation amid global demand shifts. The regional breakdown—Americas ($379.8 million), Middle East ($304.6 million), and Europe ($207 million)—mirrors geopolitical trade routes, with the U.S. alone accounting for $350.7 million. TİM Rug Sector Board Chairman İskender Kaplan’s warning of ‘logistical paralysis due to regional conflicts’ underscores the industry’s vulnerability, as shipping costs soar from $2,000 to $8,000-$10,000 per container. With raw material prices and Middle Eastern turmoil throttling production, Kaplan forecasts a rebound post-September but stresses that ‘everything hinges on the war’s trajectory’—a sentiment echoing the fragility of global supply chains.